October 2011 Ordained Servant

From the Editor. As we celebrate the Reformation this month, we focus on an important anniversary: the King James Bible is four hundred years old. One of the best thinkers in Reformed circles about Bible translation in general, and the KJV in particular, is the author of our lead article, Leland Ryken. He is a professor of English at Wheaton College, where he has taught for forty-three years. He has had a publishing career as well as a teaching career. His three dozen books cover a broad range of subjects, including the Puritans, the Bible as literature, and Bible translation. He is the author of The Legacy of the King James Bible (Crossway, 2011), which I review in this issue of OS.

Also in this issue, Westminster president Peter Lillback gives a tribute to Professor Richard Gaffin Jr., who has influenced several generations of Reformed ministers. This appreciation is imbedded in many details of the history of Westminster Theological Seminary. Like Ryken, Gaffin has been an avid defender of the plenary verbal inspiration of Scripture.

Following up on this KJV theme, I have contributed a review article looking at the new Oxford facsimile edition of the first edition of the 1611 KJV, along with three excellent histories of this monumental translation.

Since renewed focus on the Bible was a hallmark of the Reformation, it is appropriate for Sydney Dyer to review a controversial book by Andrew McGowen, The Divine Authenticity of Scripture. On this topic be sure not to miss G. K. Beale's article in the spring 2011 issue of the Westminster Theological Journal (vol. 73, no. 1), "Can the Bible Be Completely Inspired by God and Yet Still Contain Errors?" (1-37).

Just as the KJV took apt advantage of the relatively new technology of the printing press, so Bible students, pastors, and scholars have benefitted immensely from sophisticated Bible software. Two of the best are BibleWorks for Windows and Accordance for Mac. In this issue, Art Fox brings us up to date on the latest BibleWorks release.

Almost all critics agree that Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830-94) is one of the great lyric poets of the nineteenth century. As the leaves of summer succumb to fall, her poem about the passing world is especially poignant.

Blessings in the Lamb,
Gregory Edward Reynolds

From the Archives "BIBLE TRANSLATIONS AND VERSIONS"

http://opc.org/OS/pdf/Subject_Index.pdf

• "Paul, the Apostle of Gender-Inclusive Translation?" (James W. Scott) 10:1 (Jan. 2001): 20-22.
• "Should We Still Use The KJV Today? A Review Article." (G. I. Williamson) 6:4 (Oct. 1997): 99.

Ordained Servant exists to help encourage, inform, and equip church officers for faithful, effective, and God glorifying ministry in the visible church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Its primary audience is ministers, elders, and deacons of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, as well as interested officers from other Presbyterian and Reformed churches. Through high quality editorials, articles, and book reviews we endeavor to stimulate clear thinking and the consistent practice of historic, confessional Presbyterianism.